Thursday, April 19, 2012

A Few Updates

Basically I am still very busy between work and school. I don't know if I will be able to do the weekly review post yet or not. I have a lot of projects going on and papers to write. In fact, I only have one class in which we have an actual exam (and a project), the rest of my classes are all final projects and/or papers.

So, I'm trying to keep up with all of my schoolwork and still working quite a bit so I can afford to live. In any case, I'm sorry I have not been able to keep up with my blog very much recently.

Last Monday (April 9th) I worked very early in the morning (5:30am) and went to class after work. It wouldn't be too bad if this didn't always make me so tired! But I worked so early so I could see a documentary showing at my college. It was called "The People's Crisis" (video preview) a very interesting film about North Korea and attempts to help refugees escape to become free. I highly recommend it! I even bought the DVD and a T-shirt. Also please check out their website: LiNK

Thursday as part of a group project, I went to the nearby wastewater treatment plant. That was an interesting experience! It actually was not bad at all, you would think the smell would be awful but for the most part the whole area just smells like pond water. It was a very informative tour, their methods are actually pretty natural for cleaning the water before putting it in the river, at least at the plant closest to me.


Friday, when I (again) worked very early, but I stayed until 3pm (so I got 9 1/2 hours) I was supposed to leave at 2:30pm but we had been SO busy all day I stayed to try to help clean up and restock a bit. I was incredibly tired but it was worth it to be able to go to the Asian Heritage Festival at my college, which was at 5:30pm. I was there until about 8:30pm I took a lot of videos and some photos, I may try to share them here when I have time to prepare a post. I still feel a bit bad about not having a regular post that day.


Edit: Oh! I am also happy to say that I will be having a visitor from Germany from early June-early July. I'm so excited! This is someone who I have been talking to for years and have been to visit them, and they are finally coming to visit me! I hope they will enjoy their stay.

This week has just been all work/classes. I'm trying to make headway on all of my projects as they will be due before my papers and exams.

Friday, April 6, 2012

Weekly Review - Cutie Models

The Sailor Moon MegaHouse Cutie Models are part of the Sailor Moon World line of merchandise.

Released: 2003 Made by MegaHouse in China. They are a PVC type material.

These figures are incredibly lovely and well-detailed. Each of the five Inner Senshi were made.
Though many fans wish they had made the Outer Senshi as well! Each of the girls is featured in her own unique pose and with her own special stand.They are 1/8 scale models, about 8 inches tall (20cm).

 
Moon
Featured in her classic "In the name of the Moon, I will punish you" pose.
Her stand is designed with the crescent moon symbol and is yellow. It also uses pegs within the legs to hold her up. See her out of box here.

Price: $60-100 MIB.

Mars
The biggest issue with this cutie model is that the stand is designed to hold her up using a peg in each leg, however, it is very common for these pegs to break due to the flexibility of the PVC. It is very difficult to find her with her pegs unbroken/intact. View her out of box here.

 Price: $50-100 MIB. Usually sells closer to $50-60.




Jupiter
Jupiter's Stand is likely the best of all of them, it is actually a rod connected to the base with a clip to place around one of her legs. See her out of box here.

Price: $70-75 MIB.

Mercury
Featured in her classic pose after transforming. She is incredibly hard to find and tends to be one of the more expensive Cutie Models because of this.
See her out of the box here.


Price: $60-100 MIB.





Venus
Of all the cutie models, Venus is my favorite! Her blowing a kiss pose is incredibly cute and beautiful. It perfectly encompasses Venus' flirty and fun attitude. This is one of the hardest cutie models to find/obtain and one of the more expensive ones if you can find her! See her out of the box here


Price: $90-100 MIB.




Complete set price:  A couple of times I have seen the complete set sell on Yahoo!Japan auctions for around $350. However, this does not take into account the exchange rate or any fees (shipping, etc).

Photos of all figures out of box thanks to crystalgirl at Picasa. Check out her many other lovely photos!
crystalgirl

Thanks for viewing!
Please feel free to leave comments or questions!

Friday, March 30, 2012

Weekly Review - Starry Sky Orgel (Sakky's Version)

OK, so again I've been very busy with work and college so I have not made a Weekly Review post (yet). In fact, I woke up this morning and suddenly realized "Wait, it's Friday?!?"

Also, I'm proud to say that my second nephew may be born today! As of 3:30am my oldest brother and his wife were headed to the hospital! No news on the name yet, they have kept it a secret until the baby's birth. I have materials to make a blanket for him to match his brother's, but I have not gotten that done yet, either!

So, please forgive me, I will try to get back on track soon, but in the meantime I'd like to highlight this awesome collector's blog post about the "Starry Sky Orgel" AKA "Star Locket" it is incredibly well researched and has lovely photos. She even features a photo of my Korean Star Locket!

Starry Sky Locket Comparison Guide


Also, if anyone knows anything about the Spanish version of this locket, we'd love to get more information/photos of it.

As a final note, GE Animation is set to release a Star Locket Necklace this year!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Weekly Review- Collecting

Sorry, I don't have a item review this week, rather, I wanted to share a bit of my story on how I started collecting and what collecting means to me. I tried to make it as short as possible but it's still rather long so please bear with me. 

I have been collecting Sailor Moon items for over 10 years.

I started watching Sailor Moon in Middle School and started collecting by High School. Back then I only got $15 a week in allowance for working hard on a farm and doing chores around the house. I was in a few clubs at school so I didn't work a "regular" job outside of school.


At first I bought the manga and DVDs, and anything cheap I could get my hands on! I would sometimes beg my dad to let me use his eBay account. The star locket I own now is the same one I bought in high school, I saved up for weeks and finally dropped $50 to buy it on eBay, and I thought that was expensive!


It has taken a lot of searching, saving, and yes, maybe even some luck to get my collection to where it is today. I am by no means rich. I am a full time student who works part time, and I now live on my own paying rent, bills, etc myself. It's harder to save up for buying items for my collection now, but it is not impossible.


Maybe I'm just fortunate that I'm a very frugal person, I've always been a saver. I saved up twice to pay my own way to go to Germany, it might have taken me two years(+) each time, but I did it.


Maybe some people think "you must have credit card debt". Well, you're wrong. I don't even own a credit card and never plan to, the only debt I have now is student loans. Some say that it's stupid to spend so much on "toys" look around you, chances are you have a collection, too. Be it books, coins, shoes, purses, clothes, etc... I do a lot of things to save up for what I have. I save money where I can, and it's my money to spend how I want.


Ask yourself: Why do you buy things? Why do you keep them?

Because they most likely make you happy in some way (or you really need it).


So, my collection is not “big” because I am rich, and by sharing it, I am not trying to rub it in anyone’s face... I’m trying to say “I’ve worked hard on this and I’m proud of it, so I want to share it with you” and I hope that you will enjoy seeing it, too.


Of course I get a little jealous of items in other people’s collections, but I’m jealous in a way that I think “wow, their collection is neat, I hope people think the same of mine”. I look to anyone who has a collection for advice, I’ve seen very small, focused collections have an item I never knew existed, and asked them to tell me about it.


A collector is not defined by the size of their collection, I don’t think there are good or bad collectors, you’re all sharing the same love for something, be it Sailor Moon, or whatever. It takes a lot of love, time, and devotion to be a collector. Big or small, your collection is something for you, and that’s what matters most.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Treated myself a bit!

I grabbed these two shirts at Hot Topic on clearance. They may be a bit small for me. I might alter them if needed, or maybe I will just hold onto them for awhile.

Bought the fourth volume in-store today (I had been ordering them previously), just to get myself caught up on the volumes which have already been released. I still need to read them, though!

Finally, I bought the mug because it reminds me of Tuxedo Mask (of course) it was also on clearance so it was cheap.

I was hoping to find the purple shirt at my local store since they are all XS size online, but they are already completely gone!  Also, I wanted to get the new brooch but it is not in the store yet.

I think Sailor Moon items must be selling well! I didn't see any more lanyards, and there was only one sticker left. The new Outer Senshi shirts I mentioned last time have the larger sizes sold out online! I was going to order the Saturn and/or Neptune ones, but I definitely am not going to pay full price+shipping for a shirt that will be too small. I'm hoping they will re-stock on those soon.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

More new Sailor Moon items at Hot Topic!

Remember the Tuxedo Kamen Tote and the Wallet which I got recently? Well, Hot topic is now carrying them! Not sure if they are in stores yet, but they are online!

The Tuxedo Kamen Tote is listed at $24.50. I'll be honest, this seems a steep price since it's not very big.

The Wallet is listed at $18.50, but at least it has a lot of compartments.




They have also added the iPhone 4 case for $14.50, as well as the Sailor Moon Brooch for $12.50.

I am hoping to get the brooch soon. I would like the case but I only have an iPod.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Weekly Review - Inner Senshi Transformation Devices

There are several versions of the Transformation/Henshin Pens and Wands from various acts of Sailor Moon.

Transformation Pen
The Oracle
princess-halation
The transformation pen ( 変身ペン - Henshin Pen )was the first item which the inner senshi (Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus) used to become sailor soldiers. The pens basically look the same but with varying colors and symbols depending on which senshi's pen it is, except in the manga, where Sailor Venus has a different pen.
To use the pen to transform, the owner would shout "(Planet) Power Make up!"
 
First Appearances:
Sailor Moon manga in Act 2- Ami: Sailor Mercury.
Sailor Moon Anime episode 8: "Is the Genius Girl a Youma? Brainwashing School of Terror" also with Sailor Mercury's pen. In the dubbed anime it was referred to as the transformation stick.


Merchandise
msmaria @ LJ
Bandai Japan 1992:
This pen set features Mercury and Mars Transformation pens. These are actual felt tip pens you could use. Though I'm sure by today they are all dried out! I know that the Pink pen has a pink felt tip, so I assume that the other two have a blue and red tip respectively.

This set is very rare! I have yet to see the actual set sell, I have only seen the pink Luna/Disguise Pen replica sell for $125.

Remember this item? I previously reviewed it in the Disguise Pen Review!



Candy Toy Pens
You'll have to forgive me as I know very little about the candy toy items other than the fact that they exist! However, when I find out more information I'll be sure to add it!

At the top of the photo you can see a few transformation pen replicas. These are all made of plastic pieces and were only released in Japan.



Star Power Stick

wikiMoon
Mercury's Power Stick
The Star Power Stick  ( スター・パワー・スティック) is the second transformation device used by the inner senshi. Again these pens all look the same but with different colors and corresponding sailor symbol. To use the stick to transform, the owner would shout "(Planet) Star Power Make up!"

First Appearances:
Manga Act 14: Black Moon Koan-Sailor Mars. Anime Episode 62 (56 dub) "The Friendship of the Sailor Senshi! Goodbye Ami."

Merchandise
sakky @ deviantArt
Bandai Asia 1993:
 These two sets feature all of the inner senshi star power sticks released by Bandai. As you can see in the boxes, the tops of the wands come off, and actually hold nail polish! These are the most accurate versions of this item and are somewhat rare. Particularly the Venus/Jupiter set is incredibly hard to find and very expensive! The Mercury/Mars set is actually relatively cheap and much easier to get ahold of.

Price: The Mercury/Mars set tends to cost around $65 MIB. The Venus/Jupiter set is rarely seen and averages around $350.

Fun Fact: Apparently these were never actually given a name in the manga or anime, the "Star Power Stick" was the name given to them when Bandai released the actual merchandise.

shiningpolaris
Bandai Japan 1995:
This version of the wand was released with the SuperS merchandise line. It comes with four interchangeable discs, one for each inner senshi! This is a very rare item and it is even harder to find it with all of the pieces, let alone MIB. 

Requires: 2 AAA(?) batteries.

Operation: It lights up and makes a sound when you press the button. It's actually not all the exciting but the item itself looks lovely. Watch it here.

Price Range: I have seen one sell for nearly $250 MIB on eBay Germany. Otherwise I have only witnessed it selling loose from $50-150 in late 2010.

I actually owned one of these in terrible (non-working/beaten up) condition and only one of the discs once, but I sold it hoping I'd find a better one. Now I somewhat regret it since they are so hard to find!

Candy Toys
Again, I'm sorry to say that I know very little about these! But  I'm going to include them anyway.
There are several mini versions of the Star Power Stick in this candy toy form. To the left is a set
MIB, you can see a individual piece here.

To the right we have another example, you can see these came in pieces and had to be assembled.

This version on the left features a star with a golden sheen on top. It is part of the Sailor Moon World merchandise line.


On the far right we have a small piece which resembles the very top of the stick featuring Sailor Mars.





Crystal Change Rod
Wikia
The Crystal Change Rod (クリスタル・チェンジ・ロッド) also known as the Crystal Transformation Rod (dub anime) it was given to the senshi by Pegasus in the SuperS anime. To use the rod to transform, the owner would shout "(Planet) Crystal Power Make up!"

First Appeared: Anime Episode 143 (dub 136) "Time to Believe the Pegasus! The Super Transformations of the Sailor Senshi." This item never actually appeared in the manga.




Merchandise

sailormooncollectibles
Bandai Japan 1995:
This version of the rod comes with four interchangeable discs for each senshi.  It also comes with an extra orb on a golden chain to carry around with you. This item is an IRS sender so it can interact with other IRS items to activate them to lights/sound in response. It is fairly accurate to the anime.  

Requires: 2 AAA Batteries 

Operation: Lights and plays a tune, followed by a recording of the inner senshi saying "Crystal Power Make Up!" as seen in this video.

Price: $50+ loose, $70-250 MIB in 2010-2011. It has sold for $185 MIB once in 2012 so far.



sailormooncollectibles
Candy Toy:
So far this is the only candy toy version of this item I have found (second from the right). It is from the Sailor Moon World line of Merchandise.




Do you have any more information on some of these items? Did I miss anything? Be sure to let me know! Feel free to ask me anything.